Bucks vs 76ers Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Can Milwaukee String Wins Together?

After a rough, on-the-fly integration, the Doc Rivers Era with the Milwaukee Bucks has shown signs of taking off. 

On Sunday, Milwaukee visits their new coach’s old stomping grounds in Philly, against a Philadelphia 76ers side that was doing just fine without him, though they're currently treading water while reigning MVP Joel Embiid works his way back from a knee injury.

That’s a big part of the reason why the Bucks are 5-point road favorites in the NBA odds.

Can Doc’s new team build on a big previous win over the West-leading Timberwolves? Read on for my free Bucks vs. 76ers preview, complete with free NBA picks.

Bucks vs 76ers odds

Bucks vs 76ers predictions

Currently sitting in the three-spot, it’s not likely the Milwaukee Bucks can catch the top-seeded Celtics, who enter Sunday nine games ahead of Milwaukee.

However, there’s a real shot it can catch Cleveland, just a game ahead of them in second place. While seeding might not matter, it would prevent Milwaukee from having to deal with Boston until the Conference Finals, if everything works out.

Still, there’s much left to decide, but Friday’s 112-107 win over the Timberwolves was a great way to come out of the all-star break. Milwaukee used a dynamite third quarter, outscoring the Wolves 36-13 to give them a cushion and close things out for the win.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign was their defense on Minnesota’s two all-stars, limiting Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns to a combined 19-for-49 shooting, a grim 38.8% clip.

While the Bucks are just 4-7 since Doc’s arrival, the defense isn’t the joke it once was, allowing 112.5 points per game, a full six points better than their current 118.6 mark, which ranks 23rd.

However, it has come at the expense of the league’s second-ranked scoring offense, which has averaged 111.1 points over the 11 games, a full 10 points off their season average of 121.8.

The Philadelphia 76ers, meanwhile, are coming off a big win over the Cavaliers, knocking them off 104-97. That keeps them fifth in the East, with a 1.5-game cushion over the Magic.

Philly is now 3-3 in six games without Embiid but this is clearly not the same squad without the NBA's leading scorer. 

The Sixers are scoring at a 111.2-point clip in the last six games, six points off their season average. Philly’s been about a wash defensively, but without Embiid, their point differential is just -1.7. For the season, that number is +4.1. 

This will be the second of three meetings between these teams, with Milwaukee edging the Sixers 118-117 on opening night. Oddsmakers are predicting the clubs maintain that same level of high-octane offense, but these aren’t the same teams that met on October 26.

The Under has hit for both teams in four of their last five contests — and I think that’s where we’re headed on Sunday.

My best bet: Under 232 (-110 at DraftKings)

Bucks vs 76ers same-game parlay

Under 232

Damian Lillard Over 2.5 made threes

Tobias Harris Under 16.5 points

+525 at DraftKings

The Dame Lillard Era in Milwaukee actually kicked off against these same Sixers, and he put on a show, dropping 39 points with eight boards and four dimes. He also hit 4-for-12 from 3-point range.

His make line against the Sixers is 2.5, a wager I’ll happily add into this same-game parlay. Coming out of the All-Star break, Dame made just two of eight 3-point attempts against Minnesota, but they’re the sixth-ranked team in defending the arc.

The Sixers actually rank fourth, but minus Embiid, they’ve let teams hit at a sharp 37.3% mark from downtown. The 3-point champ and All-Star game MVP should shine Sunday.

Let’s wrap with Philly’s third (or fourth) wheel, Tobias Harris. This could have been a chance for the veteran to up his numbers with Embiid out, but that hasn’t been the case.

Harris was solid against Cleveland, scoring 15 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out four assists. However, with his scoring line set at 16.5, he’s passed this figure just twice in the last six games, and just once minus Embiid.

Also the primary defender for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Harris will have a lot of duties other than scoring on his to-do list against the Bucks.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Bucks vs 76ers spread and Over/Under analysis

The spread has remained mostly at 4.5 points, with a few sites going up as high as another point, but no further.

Philly is the third-best cover team in the NBA, with a 32-24 record against the spread. Milwaukee is on the other end of the spectrum, second last with a record of 22-34-1 ATS.

There’s a ton of variance on the total, which opened Saturday at a lowly 225.5 — considering a matchup featuring the No. 2 and 11 scoring teams in the NBA.

Since then, though, you can find this total as high as 232.5 points, with plenty of landing spots across that 7-point range. 

The Bucks are hovering around .500, with an Over record of 29-27-1. The 76ers have seen the Over cash to the tune of a 31-24-1 mark.

Bucks vs 76ers betting trend to know

Seven of the Bucks' last eight road games have gone hit the Under. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. 76ers.

Bucks vs 76ers game info

Bucks vs 76ers latest injuries

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